Bankruptcies fall 21 percent in August

The number of South Florida consumers filing bankruptcy fell nearly 21 percent, to 2,690 in August, from 3,387 in the same month in 2010, according to U.S. Bankruptcy Court data on Thursday.

Fewer area residents filed in August compared with a year ago, but that's due to a stalled home foreclosure process and people being unable to afford bankruptcy, said Miami bankruptcy lawyer Timothy Kingcade.

"I see so many people who have been unemployed for 18 months. They say, 'I need to file, but I need a job first,' " he said.

Since July, bankruptcy filings inched up 1.36 percent, from 2,654.

In Broward County, bankruptcies increased to 866, from 828 in July. In Palm Beach County, there were 406 filings, compared with 409 a month earlier. Miami-Dade County rose slightly to 1,418, from 1,416.